Open Access
Unifying Weak- and Strong-Segregation Block Copolymer Theories
Mark W. Matsen,Frank S. Bates +1 more
TLDR
In this paper, a mean-field phase diagram for conformationally symmetric diblock melts using the standard Gaussian polymer model is presented, which traverses the weak- to strong-segregation regimes, is free of traditional approximations.Abstract:
A mean-field phase diagram for conformationally symmetric diblock melts using the standard Gaussian polymer model is presented. Our calculation, which traverses the weak- to strong-segregation regimes, is free of traditional approximations. Regions of stability are determined for disordered (DIS) melts and for ordered structures including lamellae (L), hexagonally packed cylinders (H), body-centered cubic spheres (QIm3m), close-packed spheres (CPS), and the bicontinuous cubic network with Ia3d symmetry (QIa3d). The CPS phase exists in narrow regions along the order−disorder transition for χN ≥ 17.67. Results suggest that the QIa3d phase is not stable above χN ∼ 60. Along the L/QIa3d phase boundaries, a hexagonally perforated lamellar (HPL) phase is found to be nearly stable. Our results for the bicontinuous Pn3m cubic (QPn3m) phase, known as the OBDD, indicate that it is an unstable structure in diblock melts. Earlier approximation schemes used to examine mean-field behavior are reviewed, and compa...read more
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Block Copolymers—Designer Soft Materials
TL;DR: The Knitting Pattern as mentioned in this paper is a block copolymer that was discovered by Reimund Stadler and his coworkers and reflects a delicate free-energy minimization that is common to all blockcopolymer materials.
Journal ArticleDOI
Self-assembly of block copolymers
Yiyong Mai,Adi Eisenberg +1 more
TL;DR: The present tutorial review introduces the primary principles of BCP self-assembly in bulk and in solution by describing experiments, theories, accessible morphologies and morphological transitions, factors affecting the morphology, thermodynamics and kinetics, among others.
Journal ArticleDOI
Dynamic simulation of diblock copolymer microphase separation
TL;DR: In this paper, the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation method has been used to study mesophase formation of linear (AmBn) diblock copolymer melts.
Directed self-assembly of block copolymer blends into nonregular device-oriented structures
Mark P. Stoykovich,Marcus Müller,Sang Ouk Kim,Harun H. Solak,Erik W. Edwards,J. J. de Pablo,Paul F. Nealey +6 more
Journal ArticleDOI
Predicting the Mesophases of Copolymer-Nanoparticle Composites
TL;DR: A mean field theory is developed for mixtures of soft, flexible chains and hard spheres of mesophase-forming copolymers and nanoscopic particles that predicts ordered phases where particles and diblocks self-assemble into spatially periodic structures.
References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Block Copolymers—Designer Soft Materials
TL;DR: The Knitting Pattern as mentioned in this paper is a block copolymer that was discovered by Reimund Stadler and his coworkers and reflects a delicate free-energy minimization that is common to all blockcopolymer materials.
Journal ArticleDOI
Self-assembly of block copolymers
Yiyong Mai,Adi Eisenberg +1 more
TL;DR: The present tutorial review introduces the primary principles of BCP self-assembly in bulk and in solution by describing experiments, theories, accessible morphologies and morphological transitions, factors affecting the morphology, thermodynamics and kinetics, among others.
Journal ArticleDOI
Directed assembly of block copolymer blends into nonregular device-oriented structures.
Mark P. Stoykovich,Marcus Müller,Sang Ouk Kim,Harun H. Solak,Erik Edwards,Juan J. de Pablo,Paul F. Nealey +6 more
TL;DR: Ternary blends of diblock copolymers and homopolymers that naturally form periodic arrays are directed to assemble into nonregular device-oriented structures on chemically nanopatterned substrates for defect-free assembly in locations where the domain dimensions deviate substantially from those formed in the bulk.
Journal ArticleDOI
Dynamic simulation of diblock copolymer microphase separation
TL;DR: In this paper, the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation method has been used to study mesophase formation of linear (AmBn) diblock copolymer melts.
Journal ArticleDOI
Predicting the Mesophases of Copolymer-Nanoparticle Composites
TL;DR: A mean field theory is developed for mixtures of soft, flexible chains and hard spheres of mesophase-forming copolymers and nanoscopic particles that predicts ordered phases where particles and diblocks self-assemble into spatially periodic structures.
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